Campfire Bread: How To Bake Bread On a Stick

Learn how to make campfire bread on a stick with this easy guide. Enjoy freshly baked bread over an open fire using simple ingredients and camping tips. Baking bread over a campfire is a fun, delicious way to enjoy fresh, warm bread in the wilderness. Campfire bread on a stick is easy to make with just a few ingredients and some simple tools. Whether you’re new to camping or an experienced adventurer, learning how to make campfire bread is a skill worth having. Let’s go over everything you need to know, from ingredients to cooking tips, to ensure you get the perfect bread every time.

Basics Of Breads

Bread comes in two main types: leavened and unleavened. Leavened bread uses a rising agent like yeast or baking powder to create air pockets, making it light and soft. This is the kind of bread you often see as sliced loaves or rolls. Unleavened bread doesn’t have a rising agent, so it’s usually flat and dense, like tortillas or flatbreads. Leavened bread is usually baked in an oven, while unleavened bread is often cooked directly on a hot surface or even in a fire, making it crisp and compact.

What Is Campfire Bread?

Campfire bread is a type of bread you bake over a campfire rather than in an oven. Using a stick or a simple camping pot, you can cook this bread directly over hot embers. You don’t need special equipment, and with a bit of preparation, you can enjoy the warm, comforting taste of freshly baked bread anywhere.

Preparing The Campfire

To bake bread over a campfire, you need a hot, steady fire. Aim for a temperature of around 200°C, which you can achieve by using hardwood like oak or ash. It’s best to use whole, un-split wood, as it burns longer and provides more heat.

Set up your campfire with two areas: one for cooking and the other to keep hot embers, which you can move over as needed to keep the heat steady.

To check whether the fire is hot enough, carefully place the back of your hand near the heat. When it feels uncomfortably hot within a few seconds, it’s likely ready. Be cautious to avoid burns!

Check: Choose The Best Wood for Your Campfire

Ovens, Pans, And Pots

To bake bread at a campsite, you’ll need a pot, pan, or Dutch oven unless you’re baking directly in the embers or on a stick. A Dutch oven, made of cast iron, heats evenly and is great for baking. However, avoid putting it directly over flames, as the bottom can get too hot and burn the bread.

To prevent burning, you can place the dough in a smaller pot or pan inside the Dutch oven, supported by green sticks or stones to allow heat to circulate around the bread. You can also put the Dutch oven directly on embers rather than flames and place hot coals on the lid to bake the top.

Alternatively, use two lightweight pots or even a metal mug inside a larger pot or pan to create a mini-oven. This setup works well for smaller, personal-sized loaves.

Basic Ingredients For Campfire Bread On A Stick

To make campfire bread, you’ll need:

• Flour – about 2½ cups of all-purpose flour
• Salt – 1 teaspoon
• Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon (for no-yeast bread)
• Warm Water – about 200 ml (or 1 cup)
• Olive Oil – 2 tablespoons
• Instant Yeast – 1 teaspoon (optional, for fluffier bread)
• Sugar – 1 teaspoon (to help the yeast rise)

Optional toppings can include garlic butter, cinnamon sugar, or jam for added flavor.

Preparing The Dough At Home

When you’re going camping, you can prepare the dry ingredients in advance. Place the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast (if using) in a large resealable bag, and pack the olive oil in a small container. This makes it easy to mix the dough at your campsite.

Making Campfire Bread At The Campsite

Once you’re at your campsite and ready to make the bread, follow these steps:

• Prepare Warm Water: Heat some water over the campfire until it’s warm but not too hot (think bath temperature).
• Mix The Dough: Add olive oil and warm water to the flour mixture in your resealable bag. Close the bag, then knead the dough by squishing it around. This helps keep your hands clean. Knead until the dough is smooth but still slightly sticky.
• Let The Dough Rise: Leave the sealed bag in a warm place for about an hour so the dough can rise. When it’s cool outside, place it near the campfire (not too close to avoid cooking).

How To Prepare Sticks For Campfire Bread

Choose thick, green wood sticks for cooking campfire bread. Greenwood is fresh and moist, making it less likely to catch fire. Here’s how to prepare your sticks:

1. Select the Right Sticks: Look for sticks about two inches thick. Willow, birch, and oak are good choices.
2. Whittle the Ends: Use a pocket knife to remove the bark and smooth the ends of the sticks. This ensures the bread doesn’t stick to any rough bits.

Wrapping The Dough Around The Stick

Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into portions (this recipe makes about four portions). Roll each portion into a long rope, then wrap it around the prepared stick in a spiral shape. Pinch the top and bottom of the dough to secure it.

How To Cook Campfire Bread On A Stick

1. Find Hot Coals: For even cooking, it’s best to use hot embers rather than direct flames.
2. Cook Slowly: Hold the stick over the embers and rotate it continuously so the bread cooks evenly. Keep the dough 6-8 inches above the embers to avoid burning.
3. Check For Doneness: The bread is ready when it sounds hollow when tapped and looks golden brown.

Making Campfire Bread In A Can

When you don’t have a suitable stick, you can make campfire bread in a can. Here’s how:

• Grease The Can: Lightly coat the inside of an empty can with olive oil to prevent the dough from sticking.
• Add The Dough: Place a portion of dough inside the can, filling it halfway to allow it to rise.
• Cook In Hot Embers: Place the can near the embers and rotate it occasionally. It must cook in about 20-30 minutes. The bread is ready when it pulls away from the sides and sounds hollow when tapped.

Campfire Bread Variations

Here are a few ways to add variety to your campfire bread:

• Bannock Bread: Made with flour, baking powder, salt, and water, bannock bread can be wrapped around a stick or cooked in a skillet. It’s a simple, dense bread traditionally made by Indigenous peoples.
• Damper Bread: This Australian bread uses flour, water, and sometimes milk for extra richness. It’s best baked in a cast iron skillet or Dutch oven.

Some Bread Recipes

Here are some easy bread recipes you can make at home or over a campfire. Each recipe uses simple ingredients like flour salt, water, and a few extras to add flavor. Whether you’re baking fluffy loaves, quick bannock, or crispy flatbread, these recipes are fun to try and taste delicious! Baking or cooking bread has never been so fun and easy!

Traditional Loaf Recipe

To make a simple loaf of bread at a campsite, start by mixing 1 mug of strong bread flour and ½ teaspoon of salt in a bowl. In a separate container, activate 1 teaspoon of yeast with 1 teaspoon of sugar in ⅓ mug of warm water until it bubbles. Add the yeast mixture to the flour, stirring to form a dough that’s stretchy but not too sticky.

Knead the dough well, then place it in an oiled baking pan (like a tiffin tin) inside a larger pot or Dutch oven. Let it rise near the fire for 20-30 minutes until it doubles in size.

Bake over hot embers for 20-30 minutes, adding hot coals to the lid if possible. To check whether it’s done, use a skewer. It must come out clean, and the bread must sound hollow when tapped.

Check: Is Camping Dangerous? Risk and camp safety Tips

Ashcakes/Bannock/ Dampers Recipe

To make quick bannock bread, mix ½ mug of flour, ¾ teaspoon of baking powder, 2-3 teaspoons of milk powder, and 1 teaspoon of sugar in a bowl. Add enough water to make a sticky but firm dough.

To cook it on a stick, choose a green wood stick, whittle the end, and roll the dough into a long strip. Wrap it around the stick, leaving spaces to let it cook evenly. Hold it over hot embers and turn slowly until it’s golden brown and firm.

Alternatively, you can cook the dough in an oiled skillet near the fire or shape a small amount of patties and place them on hot ashes, flipping carefully to avoid burning.

Flatbread Recipe

To make flatbread, you’ll need ½ cup of flour, a little water, and some butter or olive oil for flavor. You can also add herbs for extra taste. Mix everything together to make a firm dough.

Divide the dough into four small balls. Roll each one out into a thin, round disk. When you don’t have a rolling pin, use any smooth, round object.

Heat a pan with a little oil and cook each flatbread, flipping it until both sides are done. When you don’t have a pan, place the flatbreads directly on white hot ashes in the fire. Flatbreads taste best when eaten warm!

Tips For Perfect Campfire Bread

• Use Green Wood Sticks: Greenwood is best for cooking because it won’t burn easily. Avoid toxic woods like poison oak.
• Cook Over Embers: Flames can burn the outside before the inside is cooked, so wait for the embers to form.
• Control The Temperature: Campfire bread needs steady heat. Rotating the bread slowly helps it cook evenly.

Cooking Campfire Bread In A Cast Iron Skillet

When you have a cast iron skillet, you can make a larger loaf of bread with it:

1. Grease The Skillet: Coat the skillet with olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. Shape The Dough: Form the dough into a round loaf and place it in the skillet.
3. Cook On Embers: Place the skillet on the hot embers and cover it with foil or a lid. Cook for 20-30 minutes, rotating the skillet occasionally.

Checking The Bread For Doneness

A good way to check whether your bread is fully cooked is to tap it. When it sounds hollow, it’s done. You can also tear a small piece from the edge to make sure it’s not raw in the middle.

Enjoying And Storing Campfire Bread

Once your campfire bread is done, you can enjoy it warm with your favorite toppings like wild garlic butter or jam. To store leftovers, wrap them in foil or place them in a resealable bag. Reheat it over the fire for a warm treat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Learn how to make campfire bread or how to bake bread on a stick. It’s a rewarding and easy camping activity. With just a few ingredients, you can enjoy fresh, warm bread cooked right over the fire. Whether you’re using a stick, a can, or a cast iron skillet, campfire bread is a delicious way to bring a bit of home-cooked comfort to your outdoor adventures.